looking for 7mm rem mag caribou bullet suggestions

[stinky]

I am using a savage 110 in 7mm rem mag with a 1-9.5 twist and 24" barrel. I was looking for some suggestions and pros and cons for selecting a bullet for my caribou trip. Any help would be great! thanks

 

[Guy Miner]

Haven't hunted caribou, but used a 175 gr Nosler Partition to take a big 6x6 bull elk @ 180 yards. The bullet performed perfectly, the bull collapsed w/in seconds of being hit. I handloaded the ammo to 2930 fps from a 24" sporter barrel Rem 700 ADL.

Also had good luck with the 160 grain Partition. I think either would work well for your purpose. The 160 is also avail in factory loaded ammo from Federal. Their loading was quite accurate in my rifle and developed almost 3100 fps!

I sure wouldn't hesitate to take either of those bullets for most N. American big game, including caribou.

In the 7mm mag, with 160 and 175 grain bullets, I've gotten great results from both H4831 and Reloader 22 along with Federal 215 magnum primers.

Good luck on that hunt! Regards, Guy

 

[Juggernaut76]

For thier size, caribou succumb easily to being hit with a well-placed shot. They are neither thick-skinned nor heavy-boned and your 7mm Mag is ample medicine for even the biggest bull. While Partitions and Accubonds would certainly do the job well, I think something along the lines of a 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip would save you a good deal of tracking. In my experience, it has been a very accurate bullet from my seven mag and has an excellent BC-as shots on the tundra can be a bit longish at times.

 

[JD338]

stinky,

The 7mm RM is an excellent choice for hunting caribou. Shots can range from 20 yds to as far as you dare shoot. Wind will most likely play a roll up in the tundra so a high BC bullet would be a good choice.
I would look at the 160 gr AB as an all around hunting bullet.
An average size Quebec Labrador bull Caribou will weigh 350 lbs with a big bull going 400 lbs. The 160 gr AB would be just about perfect. The 150 gr BT or 140 gr AB would also be excellent choices. Pick the one that shoots the best from your rifle. RL22 is a good choice for the 7mm RM.
I have taken Caribou with my 280 Rem and 140 gr BT's in the 250 yd range with quarting on shots into the shoulder and still had quarter size exit wounds through the off side ribs.
Where are you going and what outfitter are you using? My buddy is in tight with an outfitter so I know the ropes.

Regards,

JD338

 

[stinky]

thanks to all for quick replies and it confirms what i have been suspecting. I am leaving on august 19th with my father and my 12 year old son. We decided to go through Tundratours which is an agent for Safari Nordik. They were very accomodating for us because of time and conditions we needed. We also booked the hunt late and they managed to work really hard so far for what i needed. Just as an example, my father has a breathing disorder as well as sleep apnia which forces him to use a breathing machine while he sleeps. Problem was that they run large generators but only till about 9pm at camp. One phone call to Glenn at Tundratours and they said they would arrange to have a small honda generator flown to camp and there would be no charge for the extra weight from the breathing machine. I'm looking forward to this 3 generation hunt. it will be one of a kind for sure!

 

[FOTIS]

140 AB's at 3200-3300 with RL-22 ought to do yah! :wink:

 

[big rifle man]

Stinky, My hunting buddy travels to Quebec province every other year for caribou and has never had a problem with 150 grain Ballistic tips. His comment was "Caribou fall over easy after being hit" Just make sure you gut them quickly as they swell up mighty fast.

 

[JD338]

And it seeps out through their mouth and nose too! :shock:

JD338

 

[stinky]

sounds great all. i can't wait to get there. I am planning on trying to take my first bou with my bow but a second with the 7mag and maybe a black bear too if all goes well!

 

[skeeter]

If the bear is on tap for the 7rm then I'd look to the likes of Noslers 140 or 160AB or 140, 150 or 160 Partition. While the NBT is a great choice for the bou or deer it isn't ideal for a blackie. They are not hard to kill but respect must be given to the large muscle and bone structure in the front end of a bear. I personally would want a little more then the NBT may offer in this regard, especially in the higher MV of a 7rm/possible closer encounter.

My experience has been all have the potential to be accurate out of a given rifle...just need to find which one performs the best in yours. I'd give up accuracy to ensure I get to the other side of the animal (no bear or caribou will notice the difference of 1/2"(. This coming from a full fledged NBT user for our saskatchewan deer(which also happens to be the 150NBT spit out of 7 RM)!

Just my 2 cents worth

 

[john-brennan]

I use a 160gr. Partition for everything i find in the open tundra it will be windy and the heavier bullets buck the wind alot better, you should be able to get a 160gr going 3000-3100fps.

 

[Caine]

I`l be using the 160AB at ust over 3000f/s for reindeer here in Norway, shoots good in my sako and i like the BC. Wind are the biggest prob aslong as you have a rengefinder. This is my no BS hunting gun, I have a guns that i play whit lodes and bullest and bring to hunts whit new lodes and bullest. But the 7mm RM is the gun that are good to eny time.

 

[muledeerhunter]

I have been useing Federal Premiun 165Gr Boattail Soft Points for serval years and they have gave me outstanding kills from elk to big mulies. The biggest deer was a bute that went over 300 pounds and one shot with that round was all it took. This load has outstanding down range engery and bullet drop. I would look into this round to take up north. I all so like it because it has a good weight that bucks the wind real good.

 

[Alaska]

The Sierra 160 Gameking BTHP or Nosler 160 AccuBond would be excellent teamed up with Reloader 22 powder.

 

[john-brennan]

I used to live in Yellowknife and hunted alot of cariboo with a 7mm Rem Mag and my load for wind bucking ability (you will have alot of) is 65.5gr of H4831 for 3125fps was as good as it gets.